US Doubles List of Kenyan Nationals Targeted in Immigration Enforcement

The United States has expanded its list of Kenyan nationals classified as high-risk unlawful immigrants, increasing the number from 15 to 28 in less than two months, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The list forms part of the Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement efforts and focuses on undocumented foreign nationals with serious criminal convictions. DHS officials describe those included as the “worst of the worst”, a category reserved for individuals deemed to pose a significant public safety risk.

The database was introduced in December to track such cases across all 50 states. Officials say it is intended to improve transparency and coordination in immigration enforcement, particularly ahead of the football World Cup, which the United States is scheduled to host later this year.

The newly added Kenyan nationals have convictions covering a wide range of offences. These include drug trafficking, armed robbery, manslaughter, and crimes involving children. Other recorded offences include aggravated assault, money laundering, cheque forgery, and making terrorist threats. Several individuals are also listed for domestic violence, fraud, and breaches of court orders.

DHS has said the expanded list reflects the government’s determination to prioritise the removal of undocumented immigrants with serious criminal records. Alongside the database expansion, the administration has introduced measures aimed at speeding up deportations. These include a mobile application designed to facilitate self-deportation by allowing individuals to register for voluntary departure. 

The government has also announced a substantial increase in funding for immigration and customs enforcement, citing an allocation of $9 trillion. Analysts have questioned the scale of this figure, but officials maintain it demonstrates a strong commitment to enforcement.

To encourage voluntary departures, DHS has doubled the financial incentive offered to undocumented immigrants who choose to leave the country. The payment has increased from Ksh129,000 to Ksh336,000 and includes free travel to the individual’s country of origin. The department said these benefits will only be available to those who enrol through the Customs and Border Protection application.

The approach combines stricter enforcement with financial incentives to reduce the number of undocumented immigrants.